SUR Sevastopol Primary Organization provides diverse assistance to trade union members

Sevastopol Primary Organization of Seafarers’ Union of Russia (SPO SUR) summed up the results of its work in 2023 - over the reported period, SPO SUR provided diverse assistance to maritime fleet workers faced difficulties. The Primary Organization assisted seafarers to recover back wages and to draw up statements of claim, gave advice on work and rest hours, repatriation, the rights of seafarers and the responsibilities of the employer. Besides, the Organization held working meetings with representatives of crewing agencies and provide legal information for cadets of maritime educational institutions. In particular, with the assistance of SUR International Affairs Department and colleagues from the Ver.di trade union, SPO SUR managed to assist a SUR member to get back his money earned, which was seized from him by German customs during repatriation. The seafarer passed passport and visa control, and approached the customs service to declare cash - his salary, but German customs seized EUR13,300 from him, claiming the seafarer should have declared the money before passing through passport and visa control. The case came to the attention of the public prosecutor, who ruled to return the seafarer his salary. All this would have been impossible without assistance of colleagues from Ver.di and cooperation from the shipowner, Roswell Tankers Corp.

Sevastopol Primary Organization of SUR provided assistance not only to seafarers, but to their family members either. Thus, the father of the Chief Engineer of the m/v Donald turned to the trade union because his son got in trouble while in voyage. In the United States, the seafarer was charged with destroying ship documents in order to obstruct an environmental pollution inspection. According to his father, there is no evidence of that, but the seafarer faces up to 20 years in prison. The Union assisted to draw up an appeal to Seafarers’ Rights International, an international organization which offers legal support to seafarers, and SRI took the case of the Chief Engineer to court in San Diego. For its part, SUR sent a letter to the head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in the United States, and then a diplomatic note was sent demanding that the Russian seafarer be provided with qualified medical care, as well as better conditions of his detention, including providing hot meals. The situation is under control.

SPO SUR is a regular participant in meetings, seminars, and conferences concerning the development of the trade union movement in Russia, regional social matters, as well as the protection of the labor rights of seafarers. 

Thus, the SPO SUR Chairman Artem Boev, takes part in meetings of the Interdepartmental Working Group on coordinating the actions of law enforcement agencies of the Sevastopol transport region to combat crimes and offenses in the social sphere under the chairmanship of the Sevastopol Transport Prosecutor's Office. Also, he coordinates the activities of the SUR Youth Council.

“In 2024, the Organization will continue to make every effort to ensure that SUR members feel confident and protected, have opportunities for self-development and self-realization, and enjoy work at sea,” - Artem Boev added.

Let's add that SPO SUR membership is 965 people.